The Knicks cross the Hudson to face the Nets tonight in the first meeting with their cross-river rivals since getting swept out of last season’s playoffs.

But the Knicks have more important things on their minds than revenge or statements.

Team president Isiah Thomas had said his goal was to escape the grueling first 20 games of the schedule at .500, and build from there. They hit that mark exactly at 10-10, despite the absence of their best shooter, Allan Houston, and some shaky defense.

Now they say they have more building to do, and even more to build on than they thought.

“I’m very happy,” Thomas said. “I thought this is exactly where we’d be.”

But coach Lenny Wilkens said they’ll go further, proclaiming, “We’re definitely a playoff team. … I have a pretty good feel [for what this team is]. And I know, I mean I really know, that we can be better defensively. I didn’t earlier.

“They can compete against everybody. But the defense has to be first. I was very unsure. I thought we were going to struggle a lot [defensively], but guys have bought into our schemes. They’ve shown they have the ability [to defend].”

Houston’s return gives the Knicks the ability to spread the floor and their most balanced club in years – albeit a defensively challenged one that was 21st in scoring defense, and 28th in field goal defense.

“Once Allan starts to play more, we’ll be able to establish [their identity],” said Stephon Marbury.

“But right now, we’re still searching. Some nights on defense, we’re not there.”

If they can win the Atlantic, they’ll earn the No. 3 seed – although not necessarily first-round home court. But they’ll need to shore up that leaky defense, shown by their 8-3 mark when they hold their opponents under 100 points – and their 2-7 record when they don’t.

“It’s up to how committed defensively, how focused we’re going to be on being a great team, instead of just a good team with talented players,” Houston said. “It’s up to us to mentally make that jump. That’s our challenge.”